Archbishop Chong: Government has stifled Church and denied public to openly practice religion

THREE weeks after the 2013 Constitution received presidential approval, the head of the Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Peter Chong, has expressed concern about the provision of the documents that states "religious belief is personal". Interpreting this clause of the Constitution, Archbishop Chong said the government had somehow silenced the church and deprived the people of the right to pursue religious truth in the public sphere.The archbishop said as a church leader the issue was of major concern because it would limit the church on a personal level, thus rendering it voiceless and giving it no opportunity to make contributions to society.He said world-renowned religious groups such as Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians want to share their truth and help people through their faith to work towards a common truth.Chapter one of the 2013 Constitution states religious liberty, as recognised in the Bill of Rights, is a founding principle of the state.It also says that religious belief is personal.Archbishop Chong said although religious belief or faith was a personal matter, it also had a public nature."Although faith or religion is a personal matter it also has a public nature regardless of whether you are a Hindu, Muslim or a Christian," he said."When we have a claim to the truth, we want to put in a public sphere so people can benefit from that truth we've found."That is the nature of faith and when God reveals himself, people are then sent to God to receive his revelation. "Every religion has a truth to uphold and claim because we believe God reveals himself through our religious symbols."Archbishop Chong said this was what inter-religious dialogue, inter-faith search and the Ecumenical movement were based on because of the public character of religious belief. "We theologists are the best people to interpret or explain this."The archbishop further explained that if the church wanted to speak about human rights in the public sphere, it would be seen to be violating the Constitution under this provision.He said when people were deprived of their rights and beliefs they would be confused, therefore placing limits on their freedom to express themselves.Archbishop Chong said when a religion was limited to a personal matter "you are infringing on people's right to freedom of expression".This, he said, contradicted the Bill of Rights clauses in the 2013 Constitution which uphold this freedom. "This is why we want to put our message out to the public because we value this truth." - Source, Fiji Times

In happier times. Now Archbishop Chong condemns Bainimarama's despotic exercise of power over the people of Fiji

Bainimarama: Archbishop Chong confuses secular state in Constitution

The comments by the Catholic Church Archbishop of Fiji that the Constitution deprives Fijians of the right to practice religious beliefs in the public sphere are incorrect.

This is according to the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama after Archbishop Peter Loy Chong in an earlier interview with Fijivillage raised concerns with the new Constitution which states faith being a personal matter.

Commodore Bainimarama said nowhere in the 2013 Constitution is there any limitation on expressing religious belief publicly, individually or in a group.

According to Bainimarama the Bill of Rights expressly guarantees a Fijian's right to freedom of religion, conscience and belief and right to freedom of expression.

He said it is deeply troubling that the Archbishop has demonstrated such a fundamental lack of understanding of the Constitution's provision for a Secular State.

The Prime Minister added that such comments clearly have the potential to inflame public opinion which the Archbishop and other religious leaders have a special responsibility not to spread misinformation, and they must uphold that responsibility.

Archbishop Chong in an earlier interview said he had not read the constitution in full but only the part of Fiji being a secular state and faith being a personal matter. The Archbishop said the faith being a personal matter is a concern for him as churches will now be limited to society.

According to the constitution, Section 22(2) states “Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in private or in public, to manifest and practice their religion or belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching.”

The government has also set the non-negotiable that Fiji will be a secular state and there will be no special preference for any religion. Source: Fijivillage News

"When a religion was limited to a personal matter you are infringing on people's right to freedom of expression" - Archbishop Peter Chong

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Reply

A civic duty

21/9/2013 07:01:28 am

To the junta torturer above: But what has that got to do with the statements in this news item by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong? Pls explain yourself.

In my view, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong is merely reiterating what most of us already understand FAITH to be - in that FAITH has both a personal and public dimension, in existent from time immemorial.

"Archbishop Chong said although religious belief or faith was a personal matter, it also had a public nature."

"Although faith or religion is a personal matter it also has a public nature regardless of whether you are a Hindu, Muslim or a Christian," he said.

The concern however raised by the Archbishop, to my mind, is that the provision under s.4(2) of the 2013 Constitution which states that 'Religious belief is personal' comes under purview of section 4 of the 2013 Constitution that establishes the country as a "secular state".

Given that this provision seems to be a stand alone provision that has not been elaborated upon, or qualified, I think it is reasonable that the lay person and indeed a member of the clergy could very well interpret that to mean that the public dimension of FAITH has been compromised or could very well be curtailed in a "secular state" in the future.

However, if that provision is read in light of the other provisions of the Constitution as has been pointed out on this thread under s.22 (Bill of Rights, Chapter 2), I don't think that the public dimension of FAITH has been restricted.

That said, I also have serious concerns about s.4 that is a little different from what the Archbishop has raised... but they will undoubtedly be dealt with at some point in the future hopefully by an independent, impartial judiciary who are tasked to resolve conflicting interpretations of the law.

At the end of the day I think its important to understand that the Constitution of any country is a living document, and that the rules in it are not set in stone - they evolve as society evolves - what was relevant a decade ago may not be so relevant today.

Which naturally makes people raise the very relevant question: so why then did the regime throw away the 1997 Constitution if the document could have been amended to reflect the changes that people want to see in their country?

Short answer: the 1997 Constitution has been cast aside so that those responsible for the 2006 coup can avoid going to jail for treason and related corruption charges - hence the immunity provisions under Chapter 10 of the 2013 Constitution.

Victor you are the man .Fiji media needs to stand up and ask hard question to the regime.
Frank bullied churches and priest how can he lie again.
He stopped methodist Church meeting and Father Barr and others.
Seems like Frank is forgetting things quickly or its memory loss hahaha.

Reply

Nikhat Shameem

22/9/2013 01:28:35 am

Attorney General has been persuaded and impressed by Shamima Ali. She has been sitting quietly through out the protest period and recently the insiders advised that she is being considered as the first Human Rights Commissioner under the new Constitution. The same Constitution which she said had no place for women. The same government she said was illegal. When she saw she is getting isolated, she started licking AG's boots to get his favour. Drama Queen award will definitely go to SHAMIMA ALI

Oh dear @ not-the-real-Nikhat. Sewing seeds of discord all over the net are we?

You can be sure that IF Mz Ali had accepted such a sham role under the illegal & treasonous regimes constitution (certainly not if The Peoples making), Khaiyum would have been crowing about another acquiesced scalp from the rooftops already.

Nazhat Shameem seems like a more plausible contender, if anything for the mere kick she would get to stick it to someone near & dear (twisted sibling rivalry on speed).

Reply

A civic duty

23/9/2013 04:48:13 am

Sounds like the typical musical chairs in play amongst the 2006 coup key players, with the public as the reluctant audience, looking on disapprovingly.

The other thing that amazes me to this day is the lengths that some people would go to in order to get their back on those they perceive, (whether rightly or wrongly), as having wronged them, including aiding and abetting treason in order to get their way.

Reply

Marama

23/9/2013 08:11:56 pm

It looks like Muslims are fighting against each other now. Lets see whom Khaiyum bets on - Shamima Ali or Nazhat Shameem.

This is going to be really interesting.

Reply

Not the real me

23/9/2013 09:50:31 pm

My bet is on Nazhat..HE used to or still bonks her. Husband is pimp and goes for promotions using wife as asset to the cause.

Reply

Marama

26/9/2013 02:32:27 pm

Fresh newz is that Dr shaista shameem is currently back in the country and really trying hard to get her position back as the Director of Human Rights Commission. However most people are not aware that Shamima and Shaista are not in good terms at all. So the fight has shifted on these two now as they will not agree to work with each other.
Blondy Shaista is also a very close friend of Mohd Aziz from FMF. Lets see who wins in getting a favour from AG

simon

26/9/2013 08:37:47 pm

You got it wrong darling. This is Shaista's story not Nazhat's. That ugly balck 'BITCH' Shaista uses her powers to get Peter Prasad promotions and job as pilot in any airlines.Last time she spent one whole weekend at the resort near Wellington with Peter's current boss.

Sahu Khan Jnr

26/9/2013 08:17:45 pm

My blonde aunty will win becoz she is smart, experience and cunning plus she gets what she wants. Better luck next time Shamima dadi.

Reply

Kaisi

26/9/2013 08:33:06 pm

Let the RACE begin: Shamima the mongoose and Shaista the Blondi SNAKE.
Let us be the audience of this dangerous GAME.

Reply

Leave a Reply.

Author

"...Secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny. Not force, but secrecy... censorship. When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, 'This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know,' the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives." --Robert A. Heinlein, -If This Goes On